Police cracks down on illegal Bangladeshis ahead of I-day

New Delhi: The Delhi Police has increased vigil on the ghettos of illegal Bangladeshi migrants in the national capital following intelligence inputs of possible terror attack on Independence day.
Sources in the police said surveillance has been increased because many of them are allegedly working as sleeper cells for terror groups operating from Bangladesh.

Police said thousands of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants have taken shelter in the city. Atleast five of them are detained every day from different parts of the city, they added.

"We cannot deny the problem of illegal Bangladeshi migrants in Delhi. Most of them are involved in crimes. Police frequently launch special drives for their deportation," a senior police officer said.

Around 945 Bangladeshis have already been deported from Delhi between January and July this year, while nearly 18,742 migrants have been deported since 2005, police said.

As many as 5,754 illegal migrants were deported to Bangladesh in 2005, while 4,742 were deported in 2006 apart from the 4,117 sent back in 2007. The figure stood at 3,184 for 2008, they said.

According to the officer, detection of illegal migrants is a herculean task as many of them have succeeded in obtaining fake identity proofs like ration cards and voters identity cards.

"They (Bangladeshis) are very shrewd. They give us wrong information about their antecedents every time we arrest them. Due to lack of manpower and other infrastructural and technological shortcomings, we face trouble in verifying their claims," the officer said.

A dedicated `Bangladeshi Cell` is also in place under each police station which is headed by an Inspector who regularly visit his area to detect and detain illegal migrants acting on the tip-off of intelligence agencies or through his own network of informers.

Intelligence inputs have confirmed that criminal elements both across and at the eastern border provide for the illegal migrants to cross over and arrange for access to easy hideouts and logistical help within the country.

"Delhi gets them good job and money. That is why they prefer to stay here. However, we are doing all to check their number," he said.